Dr. Ricardo Bello-Gomez Co-Edits New Book on Latin American Politics

Dr. Ricardo Bello-Gomez, associate professor in the School of Public Affairs and Administration (SPAA) at Rutgers University–Newark, has co-edited a new book, Handbook of Latin American Politics (Edward Elgar Publishing), along with Claudia N. Avellaneda (Indiana University Bloomington) and Nathalie Méndez (Universidad de los Andes, Colombia), which provides a timely and comprehensive exploration of the evolving actors, challenges, institutions and dynamics shaping governance and democracy in contemporary Latin America.

With over 70 entries by leading scholars, it examines the interplay of social movements, political elites, civil society, state institutions, and international actors, revealing both the promise and perils of democratic and institutional development in Latin America. Dr. Bello-Gomez, along with Jose Acevedo, SPAA doctoral student, and SPAA doctoral graduates Mauricio Astudillo-Rodas (PhD'23) and Nicolas Lagos (PhD'26), contributed to various chapters.